Gymnosperm cone

A gymnosperm cone is the gametophyte of the plant. The male cones are further up the tree and smaller, while female cones are larger and further down the tree. Female cones generate seeds and male cones produce pollen. Since the male cones are further up than the female, when their pollen is released it will fall down and stick to the female cones. Once fertilized, the zygote grows into an embryo that is encased in a seed. The female cone then released the seed. This gymnosperm cone found on a tree in my backyard is a female cone because it is near the bottom of the tree.